he's relatively confident in the final analysis, if it takes reconciliation to enact these programs, not just what the president has proposed which is overwhelmingly popular with the american people, that he thinks they'll be able to get the 50 votes in the senate, and we hope we can get our majority in the house. but people are beginning to understand that we cannot -- we have a limited amount of independence. and i think joe manchin understands that, too. >> if this becomes a two-step process and manchin doesn't commit to voting in favor of the reconciliation bill, will you not commit to voting for the bipartisan bill? >> here's the way we're proceeding, pamela. it's a two track process. there are negotiations going on between republicans and democrats in the senate over a bipartisan bill. meanwhile we're proceeding as if that won't work so that